This is the first edition of the popular work recounting the circumnavigation of George Anson (1697-1762) between 1740 and 1744. Occurring during the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-8), Anson's voyage set off with the intention to harass Spanish shipping in the Pacific Ocean and notably captured a trade ship en route to Manila. Despite suffering setbacks from scurvy and losses of ships, the voyage was triumphant and Anson returned home with around £500,000 worth of treasure. In gratitude, Anson was granted the rank of rear-admiral and a project was initialised by Richard Walter (1716?-85) to publish an account of the voyage. This was written by the mathematician Benjamin Robins (1707-51), who had received Anson's patronage with regard to his own publications on artillery reform in the Royal Navy. Robins received £1000 for his efforts, while Walter was credited as author in recognition of his instigation of the project.